Always-On CPAs Demand Better Connectivity

business-traveler-at-airport-email-size.jpgMobile CPAs clamor for upgrades to stay competitive. Join the conversation. Take the survey. Get the answers.

By Rick Telberg
For the Finance Executive

Mark Hodell, director of audit and management services at a manufacturer of furniture and electronic assemblies in Jasper, Ind., spends up to 10 hours a week working from outside his company’s offices. And he’s quite pleased that he can.

Like many other accountants working in business and industry, Hodell rates the ability to work out of the office as an important ingredient in a achieving both a successful career and happy home life. He relies on a smartphone-the souped-up, e-mail-equipped version of the no-frills traditional cellphone-to increase his personal productivity, improve communication with colleagues, and balance his work life and personal life. He says it “allows more flexibility in your life.” READ MORE →

How to get smart about your charts in three easy steps

030608_2.jpgExcel, SmartDraw show why a picture is worth a thousand numbers.

Rick Telberg
for Hewlett Packard

Many of today’s reports contain large numbers of business graphics. That’s a good thing; after all, the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words is especially true when it comes to conveying numbers.

Unfortunately, while finance and accounting professionals are usually quite comfortable with tables of figures, they often aren’t quite as facile when it comes to the pictorial representation of those figures.

Creating charts from Microsoft Excel or in PowerPoint is pretty much a matter of highlighting the data and clicking on the chart icon, which launches the Microsoft Chart system. For many users, that’s the beginning and the end of the process. The result is a chart, but not necessarily one that reflects well on you or your firm.

Here are a three pointers on how to spice up your business graphics: READ MORE →

Can’t live without broadband?

030608_1.jpgYou don’t have to with EVDO or HSDPA in your laptop.

By Rick Telberg
for Hewlett Packard

Technology moves along at an ever-accelerating clip. Five years ago, broadband Internet connectivity was something special, and was slowly taking over from dial-up. Today, it is almost ubiquitous. If you are still using dial-up, it’s because there are few or no broadband options in your area. READ MORE →